Xyriel Manabat opened up about what led her to join Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition this year.
In an interview with Bianca Gonzalez on the TFC show BRGY, the actress revealed that she had actually been invited to audition for Pinoy Big Brother several times in the past.
"Naalala ko po parang dati meron pong ibang edition ng PBB na pinag-o-audition din po ako. Parang ilang beses po ako sinensendan na if you are open to audition," she shared.
However, the Love You So Bad star explained that she repeatedly turned down the opportunity because she felt she lacked the emotional maturity to handle the experience at the time.
"Pero nung mga panahon na 'yun, grabe rin po kasi self-awareness ko, so alam ko na nung mga panahong ino-offer sa akin 'yun, it's not for me. Mapapaaway lang ako sa loob. Wala pa akong chartacter development, hindi pa ako ganun kagaling mag-handle ng emotions ko. Hindi pa ako ganun kagaling makisalamuha, makisama. So lagi ko pong dini-decline," she explained.
When PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition was offered to her this year, Xyriel said she immediately knew she was finally ready.
"Pero po nung nag-PBB: Collab, 'yun po 'yung panahon na kahit papano, developed na ako. Kahit papano may maturity na and may growth and I'm aware po na magaling ako makasalamuha, magaling akong makisama. So nung in-offer po sa akin 'yun, sobra po akong excited. Nagtititili po ako nun," she recalled.
It was in April when Xyriel entered the PBB house. She got evicted from the PBB house in May. Following her exit, the actress expressed her gratitude to her supporters.
"Salamat dahil pinagstay niyo ako ng a little bit longer sa in-expect ko. Kasi to be honest, akala ko talaga one week lang ako tapos mapapaaway na ako, tapos ma-fo-force evict na ako (dahil) sa bunganga ko, pero I stayed for more than a month," she stated in a video posted on Star Magic's Instagram page.
"Thank you, guys. Mahal ko kayo. Sana after niyo 'to mapanood, love niyo pa rin ako. Sana hindi magbago 'yung isip niyo as a supporter," she added.
In the same interview with BRGY, Xyriel also opened up why she took a six-year break from show business starting in 2017 when she was 12 years old.
"Naalala ko po 'yung talagang goal ko po nun, shallow man pakinggan, pero ang sabi ko talaga gusto ko maransan na maging tambay," she shared. "For me po grabe 'yung depth nung gusto ko during that era na gusto ko po gigising ako, ang aabangan ko school service. Hindi po ako gigising ng 2 a.m. papuntang ABS-CBN for pull out [for shoot]," she said.
Xyriel explained that her six-year break from acting allowed her to grow and gain wisdom that continues to shape her today. "Feeling ko po lahat ng experience ko during those 6 years [of hiatus], malaki 'yung contribution niya sa wisdom ko ngayon and how I carry myself," she stated.
She also acknowledged the unwavering support she received from ABS-CBN during her hiatus, noting that the network continued to reach out and offer her projects. However, she emphasized that stepping away was ultimately her personal choice.
"Gusto ko lang din po i-acknowledge na grabe pa rin po 'yung pagmamahal sa akin ng network natin kasi po during those 6 years, hindi po sila nag-stop mag-reach out at mag-offer ng show. It's really my decision po talaga to focus on my personal life para maging regular na bata kasi ang mindset ko po noon, okay during that time po feeling ko, okay na ako sa career, kailangan ko habulin 'yung youth ko kasi hindi ko na po 'yun mababalik," she stated.